NORTON SHORES, MI – Jim Konecny grew up in Norton Shores and the Nugent Sand Co. property was his playground while living on Castle Avenue just east of the massive sand mining operation.

Konecny went on to graduate from Mona Shores High School in 1985 and has a two-year degree from Muskegon Community College, a golf course agricultural certificate from Michigan State University and a business degree from Ferris State University in 1995.

He left Michigan to pursue business opportunities in Milwaukee, working for Marquette University for a time, operating a Milwaukee-area country club and receiving his real estate license in Wisconsin, where he worked in development for five years.

More recently, Konecny, his wife and five boys moved near Richmond, Va., where he sells sports field lighting systems on the East Coast for a Hillsdale company. But getting back to his home in Muskegon was always a goal.

When looking for a vacation home in Muskegon, Konecny discovered the Nugent Sand Co. – the place where he snowboarded in the winter and learned to first drive a car – was up for sale. Mining was coming to an end and the company was selling the nearly 500 acres with prime Lake Michigan beach.

Konecny was interested and his dreams extended beyond the Nugent Sand property.

His grand vision for the Nugent Sand property has blossomed to include the nearby Muskegon County Club and the former Sappi paper mill property on Muskegon Lake.

Jim Konecny

“The more I saw what was available the more interested I became,” Konecny said, adding that plenty of the inspiration for his Castle Dunes LLC plans for the property come from his late mother, Barbara.

A longtime Muskegon area nurse, she died four years ago while his father Robert, a retired GTE telephone office manager, now lives in Arizona. The couple lived 28 years on Castle Avenue raising a family of five, of which Jim is the youngest.

In exploring the Nugent Sand property sales listing, Konecny met landscape architect David Stebbins of Fruitport, who was helping sell the property for the company. Stebbins had been Nugent’s property development manager for a decade and created the plans that were Dune Harbor Estates in 2001.

Konecny over the past year has developed a plan for the Nugent South Lake property along with Stebbins, who has become Castle Dunes project manager. Castle Dunes has a purchase agreement for the South Lake property and a first-right-of-refusal on the Nugent Sand North Lake property.

David Stebbins

Castle Dunes has resurrected the upscale, gated residential community plan for South Lake and will again seek city of Norton Shores approval for those plans. Konecny said he is currently raising money from investors and negotiating with banks interested in financing the property purchase and residential development.

The land deal with Nugent Sand must be completed by early August, Konecny said. Castle Dunes has brought on Grand Haven real estate attorney Robb Robbins to help the development become a reality.

Robb Robbins

Konecny and Castle Dunes are not just thinking about a the South Lake site nor even just the Nugent Sand property, which includes 87 acres owned by Jackson-Merkey Contractors Inc. of Muskegon on the West Sherman Boulevard portion of the site.

Castle Dunes’ marketing materials to perspective investors begins with an aerial photo showing the South Lake property and the North Lake site that will continue to be mined of sand for another three or so years. The photo also shows the Muskegon Country Club and the Sappi site.

Although miles apart by roadway, the three sites – Nugent, the country club and Sappi – are adjacent of each other. Sappi and Nugent Sand are separated by about 2,000 feet, all of which is country club property.

Some have suggested that the three sites are Muskegon’s future “destination” property, linking upscale residential with a Lake Michigan beach to a world-class golf course and commercial development on Muskegon Lake that could include a marina with Big Lake access.

“This unique property,” a Castle Dunes “vision” statement begins below a map showing all three properties, “is one of the last large parcels of property along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.”

An aerial view of the former Sappi paper mill property on Muskegon Lake prior to demolition in 2012 shows how close it is to the Muskegon Country Club and Nugent Sand Co.Marge Beaver | Muskegon Chronicle

When sand mining is done on the North Lake property sometime around 2016 or earlier, Konecny said he hopes Castle Dunes has been successful enough in developing the residential community around South Lake to purchase the remainder of the site.

Jackson-Merkey’s Steve Jackson said that his construction company has used its property along West Sherman Boulevard over the years for the storage of construction materials and equipment. He said that site will be sold in conjunction with the Nugent Sand North Lake parcel.

“Certainly long-term, we will work with whomever on redevelopment,” Jackson said. “Naturally, our property goes with North Lake site.”

Konecny has a vision of the North Lake property for continued development of private residential homes, but with the potential of a mixed-use of commercial development. He said he sees the potential of building up on the North Lake property to provide stunning views of Lake Michigan, as the barrier dunes are not as tall on that portion of the site, which has nearly 2,000 feet of Big Lake beach.

The thought of redeveloping the Nugent Sand property thrills community leaders.

"Having lived in the Beachwood area, I can tell you firsthand that this is a very special location," said Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce. "You can be located on a quiet lake, near world class beaches and resort amenities minutes from your workplace, arts and entertainment venues, shopping, great schools and quality healthcare. If you had a check list of everything and anything you can think for your dream home location, this development has the potential to have it all."

The connection of the Nugent South and North lakes properties with the Muskegon Country Club is critical both for the new development but also for the long-term viability of the country club, Konecny said. The plan would be for a private roadway under Sherman Boulevard connecting the Nugent site to the golf course, he said.

“Many of the people that build in South Lake will be golfers and potential country club members,” said Jackson, whose company will be the prime contractor of the proposed residential development if Castle Dunes is able to raise the funds and complete the land deal. “This development would be a good fit for the country club. It is a win-win for both.”

Those wanting to contact Castle Dunes LLC and its president Jim Konecny can do so at (414) 588-6027 or email at castledunesllc@mail.com.